Tag: How to Introduce a New Puppy to your dog

How to Introduce a New Puppy to Your Dog

Careful Introduction

While adding a new French Bulldog Puppy to the home can be an exciting time, it can also be a stressful time. French Bulldog puppies need a lot of care and attention. The adjustment period can be more difficult if there is already a dog in the home. Here are some tips on how to introduce a new puppy to your dog so the new addition to the family can fit in without a problem.

What to expect when you introduce a new dog to your dog

You should not be surprised if your new French Bulldog Puppy is not welcomed into the home by the other dog. Your older dog may even growl and snap at the puppy and want nothing to do with it. Your dog may seem threatening, but it is unlikely that he will harm the puppy. Some dogs may be the opposite and accept the French Bulldog Puppy right away but if they do not, it is nothing to be alarmed about.

Communication

The dogs need to learn how to communicate with each other. Puppies play in a different manner than adult dogs do. They follow their own set of rules. There are certain ways that they greet each other and play. Puppies do not know the rules that are set by the adult dogs. When the French Bulldog Puppy first comes into the home he will be attracted to the older dog, since it looks like him. The puppy may get snarled at as he learns the rules of the adult dog.

Listen

Puppies do not have the social skills needed to interact with adult dogs. The adult dog will teach the puppy the rules of their home. Once again the older dog may growl at the French Bulldog Puppy until it learns the rules of the home. It can take up to 3 weeks for the dogs to begin to interact and play with each other. It may take up to five weeks for the adult dog to fully accept the puppy. During this time there are some things that you can do to make sure things are going well when introducing a puppy to the older dog.

First Meeting between the puppy and the older dog

Before bringing the new French Bulldog Puppy into the home remove any toys, blankets, and food bowls so the dogs will not fight over them. Allow the puppy to go into the home and sniff around. After a couple of minutes bring your other dog back into the home. Allow them to sniff each other but if the adult dog becomes aggressive step in and distract it.

When the dogs meet for the first time it should be done outdoors and you should not do it alone. The dog is less likely to become territorial. Be calm and allow the dogs to smell each other out. This may take several minutes but it is important that the dogs get used to being around each other.

Let the dogs go at Their Own Pace

When the dogs first meet allow them to determine how much interaction they have. The adult dog may sniff the French Bulldog Puppy and then walk away.

Going at their own pace

They may walk near each other but this can take a little bit of time. As long as the dogs are comfortable, allow them to feel each other out. Do not leave them alone outside.

Supervision is very important

Do not leave the adult dog alone with the puppy. It is important to supervise all interactions between the dogs. The adult dog already in the home, needs to know their human will step in if the puppy is bothering them too much. The puppy needs to know they can turn to their human for protection. With supervision the adult dog is less likely to snap at the puppy or growl at it.

Crates

Privacy Needed

When going out it is important to crate the puppy or put him in a pen. If the dogs are bothering each other the puppy can be gated so that the dogs can have some quiet time. This will allow the adult dog the chance to relax, since puppies have a lot of energy and do not know when it is time to stop playing. A little bit of quiet time can go a long way. If the older dog already has a pen or a crate they should be allowed to use it as needed for some alone time.

Escape Route

It is important to have an escape route for both the adult dog and the puppy. It is important to teach the older dog ways to avoid the puppy. Words such as “kennel” or “time out” can be used if it looks like the adult dog has had enough of the puppy. The adult dog can then escape and get a reward or treat for doing so. This needs to be reinforced with the adult dog. If he does not have a crate he should be allowed to go to another room in the home that is gated so the puppy cannot get in. He should get a reward or a treat for this as well.

Avoid Punishing the Adult Dog

Even if the adult dog does growl at the puppy do not punish it. Growls are a way that dogs communicate and tell each other to back off. Do not yell at the dog for growling at the puppy. Supervise interaction and use time outs as a way to manage interaction.

Special Attention

The adult dog should be given extra attention by all members of the family. This will allow your dog to feel important. When he looks annoyed, he should be given space as well. Dogs are social creatures and they need attention. Both dogs should be well loved and given plenty of attention in the home.

Reinforce Good Behaviour

When the adult dog does something nice to the puppy and is well behaved around the puppy he should be given a reward. If the adult dog ignores the puppy instead of snapping at it, he should be given a reward as well. The adult dog will begin to associate positive things with the puppy and realize the puppy is not so bad. Treats will reinforce the position behaviour.

Click and Treat

A clicker can help the adult dog understand how to behave around the puppy. The clicker is easy to use to create patterns and will associate happy feelings when the new puppy is around. When the puppy comes around, the clicker can be used and the dog given a treat. When the dog expresses desired behaviour’s it is another way to reward the dog.

Get the Puppy Tired

Puppies have a great deal of energy and to other dogs this can be annoying. Make sure the puppy gets lots of time to play and get their energy out. Take the puppy for a walk and spend a lot of time on training. This will help the puppy get some of their energy out. When they are near the adult dog they may not jump on them and will take a break from playtime. Puppies like plenty of sleep, so make sure the puppy has a nice area to rest in after taking a walk or spending some time outdoors. This will also give the adult dog a chance to relax and take a break from the puppy.

Switch the Dogs Out

If one dog is in a confined area and the other dog is playing make sure they both get playtime. When the puppy is done playing it should be put into a confined area for quiet time and the other dog should be allowed out to play. Do not be surprised if it sniffs around to see what the puppy was doing. The older dog may also need some comforting. It may be confused as to why this new puppy is allowed to be in the home. Allow the adult dog to sit on your lap or sit by your site. This will give him some quality time and will help ease feelings of stress from having another dog in the home.

Getting Used to the Smell

Dogs communicate by their scent. This is their natural way of learning about new things. Allow the adult dog to sniff the puppy. When the puppy is sleeping or having some quiet time allow the other dog to smell around and get used to the scent of the puppy. They should also be allowed to sniff a blanket or other item that the puppy has laid on. This way they get used to the scent of the puppy and will not be anxious when they smell the new puppy around their home.

Treat Them Equal

If the puppy gets a treat for something the adult dog should get a treat as well. If the puppy gets a pat the adult dog should get some love and attention as well. This will help the older dog know he is still valued. This will, once again, associate positive feelings for the puppy. When the puppy is around and gets something good the older dog will know they are going to get something good as well. The same thing can be true with activities. After taking the puppy for a walk, take the older dog for a walk, even if they are short walks. This will allow the dogs to associate good things with each other and they can begin to make some peace between them.

Be Patient

Even the best behaved dogs are going to take some time to get used to another animal being in their house. It is important to stay positive and to be patient with your older dog. If you are stressed out and anxious the dogs will pick up on this feeling. They will become anxious and will not be able to be relaxed. Even when times get difficult it is important to stay calm and positive at the same time.

Do Not Use a Leash

When the puppy is roaming the home the older dog should not be kept on a tight leash. This may associate a negative reaction to the puppy. The older dog may get an unpleasant feeling if something is tight and they may associate the feeling with the puppy. Do not pull the dogs apart either. This will also reinforce a negative feeling with the puppy.

Repeat the Process

Repeat Introduction

You may have to repeat the introduction of the puppy several times. If the adult dog is afraid or anxious you may have to introduce it to the puppy several times. If the puppy is afraid, this process should also be repeated. The dogs may need to be taken outside in a neutral area and be allowed to sniff each other out. They should be brought into the home and the puppy should be allowed to look around and get used to these surroundings. The older dog should then be brought back into the home as well and allowed to sniff where the puppy has been. This process needs to be repeated until both dogs are comfortable.

It may seem to take forever when you are learning how to introduce a new puppy to your dog. It may take a little while for them to get used to each other. Most dogs will come around and accept one another within three weeks. Slowly but surely there will be signs that the dogs are coming around and developing communication skills. They may become friends or at least learn how to co exist. As long as both dogs are given love and attention, there should be harmony in the home.

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